India protests PTV bid to reach Khurana

India protests PTV bid to reach Khurana
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

ISLAMABAD, DEC 28: India on Tuesday lodged a protest with the Pakistani authorities after a team of state-run television Pakistan TV (PTV) entered the intensive care unit (ICU) of a local hospital in a bid to interview Anil Khurana, who was released from the hijacked Indian Airlines plane and flown here in view of his failing health.

The Indian High Commission here handed over the protest note to the Pakistani foreign office this afternoon after it came to know that a PTV crew entered the hospital through the back door and tried to interview Khurana, who is still under heavy sedation with doctors not allowing anybody to meet him, mission sources said.

The protest note demanded the video footage of the attempted interview with Khurana should not be telecast, but the Pakistani authorities ignored it and the television's news bulletins repeatedly showed the clipping of a PTV reporter trying to extract comments from him.

It was apparent from the clippings that the 45-year-old Khurana, whose father and wifeare arriving here on Tuesday, was not in a condition to speak.

However, doctors attending on him said his condition has improved.Khurana, suffering from acute diabetes, was flown here from Kandahar on a special UN plane and rushed to the ICU of local Shifa hospital in a "very bad shape".

The Indian High Commission had posted a mission staff in front of the ICU to prevent anybody from disturbing him. The PTV crew apparently entered through the back door with the connivance of the hospital staff.